Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barrie on February 15, 2010 at 1:49pm

One more thing, Paul. Caffeine is a trigger, yes. But, there are many others. I have an issue with chronic sinus infections & could not take Sudafed because of its slight amphetamine effect. Something else to watch out for ...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rs14hubbard on February 8, 2013 at 3:13pm

Hi Paul, Just came across this post as I was specifically googling T1D and SVT. Just wanted you to know you are not alone. My daughter was diagnosed with both on Jan 17, 2008. She went through 2 cardiac catheter abalations in 2008. She has been fine ever since. Hope you got the answers you need. I do think, after doing some research, that this is far more common with T1D than many would think. Be well!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 8, 2013 at 3:39pm

I also have SVT but it began prior to my Type 1 diagnosis and doesn't seem to correlate to when my blood sugars are high. Glad your daughter is symptom free, rs. I'm on a medication which (after trying many others) reduces but doesn't eliminate the symptoms. My cardiologist says I will need ablation at some point. Was it difficult?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rs14hubbard on February 8, 2013 at 4:29pm

Zoe-it was hard as a parent to watch her go through the ablations but truthfully we feel so fortunate that after the ablations it is no longer something we have to worry about. It the large scheme of things it is a relatively non-invasive procedure.

She roomed in with a little girl that was waiting for a heart transplant..put everything in perspective. Five years later she is symptom free, plays ice hockey 4 days a week, is a lacrosse player, and participates in her schools cross country team. We feel very blessed for her, thankful for living in Boston where they have excellent doctors, and fortunate that it was addressed immediately after they found it. The doctors felt living with T1D would be challenging enough-they knew they could correct her SVT and they didn't want us to live in woryy of that and T1D. The cardiac catheter ablations were a gift really.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 8, 2013 at 5:22pm

I'm so glad for her. I've lived with this for years and years and can't imagine a child having to deal with it. Thanks for sharing; makes me not look as the procedure as a "last resort" but something to end the problem!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Curwen on February 9, 2013 at 6:42am

Hi rs...

I'm glad your daughter had the successful ablations :) I know my triggers and they are caffeine and alcohol. I haven't had caffeine for about 6 years now but a couple of months ago I asked for a decaff coffee but after drinking I told my wife I thought it was caffeinated... and about an hour later I was having an episode. I managed to calm myself down and the SVT reverted by itself :) I only have a couple of beers from time to time and this doesn't seem to trigger.

My Cardio said having the episodes so infrequently (1 every 1-2 years now) its better to put off the ablation if/until they become more frequent and bothersome.

Paul

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Erin Huff Carper on February 8, 2013 at 3:56pm

I was diagnosed with SVT last year, but my episodes only last a few seconds at a time. I'll have them off and on all day, but then I'll go days with out them. To me, it feels like my heart is fluttering. I don't think my heart rate gets as high as yours did, and definitely for not as long. My doctor recommended that I take a beta blocker, and I did for awhile and it helped a lot. I took atenolol for awhile, but didn't like the side effects, so I tried a different one that worked really well. I hope you are able to get some relief from this! It can be very scary! I can't even imagine having an episode where I ended up in the hospital.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Curwen on February 9, 2013 at 6:46am

Yes, emergency is traumatic and the last 2 times I've stayed at home, calmed myself down and waited the episodes out. They both reverted after about an hour. The drug they give me is called Adenosine and basically stops your heart and forces it to restart in normal rhythm. The drug also makes you feel very strange, I feel like my legs are missing :(

I too have the "flutters" throughout the day but they are more noticeable when in bed because my body is so relaxed...

Stay healthy, Paul

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jen on February 9, 2013 at 8:26am

I was diagnosed with SVT just over a year ago, and have had three episodes that ended up in emergency because they start and don't stop for hours/days. Weirdly, the only medication that works for me is a tiny dose of beta blocker, so since June I've been taking this every day to prevent episodes, and things have been totally fine. I may try and stop taking it in a few months, as I don't like how tired it makes me, but will talk to my cardiologist first.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rs14hubbard on February 9, 2013 at 9:34am

I am really surprised that you haven't had the ablation procedure done especially since you have landed in the ER. From what the doctors explained to us it is easily corrected with the ablation. Maybe talk to the doctors again?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Equestrian on February 9, 2013 at 8:45am

Don't know much about SVT. Is it solely to diabetes? Is a pacemaker an answer?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rs14hubbard on February 9, 2013 at 9:38am

SVT is not solely related to diabetes at all. Infact, very few studies have been done to find a correlation between the two. There was a study in Britain. I suspect that there is a correlation but none proven to date. To my knowledge, a pacemaker is not the answer. Drugs and a procedure called a cardiac catheter ablation is what doctors use to correct SVT.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page